Aviator&#39;s helmet



Jan. 12, 1932. 52. H. WELLS AVIATORS HELMET Filed July 2, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet I 1 IBIVENTOR. Benjamin H. Wells ATTORNEYS.

B. H. WELLS Jan. 12; 1932.

AVIATOR S HELMET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 2. 1929 IN\IIENTOR. Benjamin I-LWEHS ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 12, 1932 BENJAMIN H.

evi ences HELMET:

er; the forehead, cheeks, neck, and beneath the chin of the wearer in a conforming relation which will prevent the flutter of parts thereof, and wind from entering the" helmet:

Otherobjects and advantages of this in- 'vention'will heapparent duringthe course of the followingdet ailed description;

In the accompanying drawingspf orming a part of this specificatiom and where n similar reference. characters designate correspondingv partsthroughout the several views,

Figure lis a front perspective'view of'the improved helmet. v i I Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the helmet' Figure 3 is a perspective view of the; hel; met with the chin straps connected.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of-the-chin strap connection of the helmet.

Figure 5 is a transverse'sectional view taken through the helmet'looking forwardly.

Figures 6 and 7' are sectionalviews taken substantially on their respective line in Figure 5. 1 Figure 8 is a plan view of a reinforcing detail of the-helmet. Figure 9-is a developed View of the parts of the helmet as cut in conformity 't'op'a tt'erns In the drawings, wherein forthe purpose of illustration isshown only apreferredenibodiment of theinventioin the letterA may and prior to the relative assemblage thereof.

generally designate the helmet; "or outer covering'of' 'a' helmet, and 1 intended that -WELLS, or sEAm'rLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR en s GLOVE com- PANY, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, A oonronn'rion 1 I the same sha ll be lined if found advisable to suit the character of usej'of the same] The helmet consists of a top portion *extendin over the top of the headjof the wearer an over the forehead" and the back of the neck of therweare'r consistmg'of a centerpiece-l5 and adjacent right and left panels 16 and 17; the same being" connected together.

Rightand leftsides l8 and :19 are provided, for connection with the panelsec'tions l6 and 17 respectivelyto complete thehelinet.

ln' the conventional helmet there is a 1 center seam running along the top and from front to, back of the'helm'et, and because of thisjand the fact that. the top of thehelmet is ordinarily 'not ofsnug form fitting structure, i

there is apt to be looseness of' some kind,

comfort ofthewearer'. e e

In Figure 9' are diagrammatically shown the helmet portions'15 to 19 inclusive in their which permits'the wind to enter, to the-distern; The central strip'l5'is elongated, sym- 'metrica'l at each sideof'its longltudinal axis,

diate portion 28; the opposite side edges beingconveXly arcuated; The. foreheadend 21 has the end edges sloping at 25 in a convergent relation,v to-a point whichis' along plane positionsasthey are cut from the patthe centerlinefof the helmetyito provide, in

combination-with the bias out edges 83 of the strips-16 and 17, a tab at the forehead" portion of the; helmet, as shown in:Figur'es 1, 3, 5, and 6, which the aviator may grasp 'in pulling the helmet in' snug relation on' the head". or toifacilitateitsremoval. 'x

The top panels 16 and" ;l'(' at opposite sides of the top center section 15* are of general crescent-shaped formation; having convex edges 28 adapted to beconneoted b y stitching; or in any'approved'relation againstor 5 in overlapping relation with the conveX'adacent margins of the top portion The opposite sideedge of each of the panels 16 and 17, shown at 30,'is concaved. The said panels 16 and 17 are widest intermediate their ends, and at the forehead engaging ends 31 thereof, the same have the bias cut edges 33 adapted to slope in a flush relation with the converging edges of the center portion 15, to produce the peakedor tab effect at p the forehead of the helmet, asshown in Figures 1, 3 and 5 of the drawings.

Referring to theside pieces 18 and 719, the same are of half circular formation provided with tapered shanks 4,0 and 41 respectively for extension beneaththe chin of the wearer. The convex edgesadt thereof are adapted to be marginally connected along the concave edges 3O of the panelstrips 16 and'17.

Withthe parts connected as above men-v tioned, there are provided four seam lines extending from front to; rear along the-top of the helmet, held by stitching 4:6, and eliminating the seam along the plane of symmetry of the helmet. With the parts connected in this manner, there is provided-the peaked portion which: clips at the forehead part of the helmet. The margins of the connected helmet parts may be suitably finished with edging 50, with an additional reinforcing edging 51 at this peaked forehead portion of the helmet,, as shown in Figure 1. On the rear of the helmet, preferably externally on the side pieces 18 and 19 thereof are provided the usual goggle strap supporting extensions 55, of any approved type.

, Exteriorly on the chin abutting shanks 40 and 11 there are provided parts and 71 of a connecting strap; the part 70 being an apertured strap having an end 7 3 extending through an opening or, slot74 in the shank 4:0, transversely therein, and secured thereto as by stitching the apertured strap 7 0 of course having a series of apertures therealong and the same extending beyond the end margin of the shank 10, as shown in Figure 1. The part 7l is similarly connected exteriorly upon the shank 41, with an end extending through a transverse slot 75 in the said shank 41, and stitched therein; the strap 71 being relatively short and having a buckle 77 at the end thereof for connection with the strap 70, ina manner which is apparent.

If idesired, a loop 80 may be provided exteriorly upon the shank 40, transversely thereacross, through which the strap 7 0 is threaded, as shown in Figure2.

The making of the shank 40 longer than the'shank 41 enables the former to be doubled inan overlapping relation beneath the latter, with thehelmet upon the head of a wearer,

, in the relation shown in Figure 3, and the q fastener parts 708ml 71 buckled-into connected relation below the chin of the wearer.

' ,Itis thus apparent that therewill be no disljcomfort or irritation to theskin below the chinof the wearer, due to the'fastener or coupling holding the helmet snug fitting about the face and upon the head of the wearer, inasmuch as the overlapping of the shank parts prevents the fastening devices from coming into contact with the wearers chin. A diamond shaped reinforcing piece 60 is stitched inside of the helmet at the forehead covering partthereof, across the adjacent ends of the top pieces 15, 16 and 17 and this reinforcing piece 60, together with the reinforcing edging 51 secured to the strips 15, 16, and 17, and the side pieces 18 and 19, enables the tab to be effectively used in pulling the helmet in snug relation on the avia; torls head, without danger of tearing the strips.

- Any type of liningmay be employed, or

the head gear may be made without lining. The lining'inay" be seamless, or the seams made, by connecting. the edges of the pieces ofthe lining in a non-overlapping relation, in a manner'well known in the art.

All of the parts of the helmet with'the exception of the buckleare flexible,and preferably constructed of a good grade of leather, although other materials may be used ifdesired; eliminating the center line seam along the plane of symmetry of the helmet provides a The, three-piece top construction,

with shank extensions for disposition beneath the chin of the wearer, the opposite side edges of the central strip being convex and the convex edges of thevcrescent-shaped side panel strips being connected along the convex margins of the central strip to provide a form fitting j top construction, said side pieces having convex edgesthereof marginally connected to the concave edges of the side panel strips, a reinforcing piece at the front portion of the helmet secured to and extending across the central and side strips, and a reinforcing edgingsecured at the front of the helmet to said centraland side strips and to said reinforcing piece and said side pieces ,1 i p I I 2. A helmet formed of a one piece elongatedjcentral strip, opposite side panel, strips of crescent-shaped formation, side pieces of half circular formationprovided with shank extensions for disposition beneath the chin of the wearer, the opposite side edges of the central strip being convex and the convex edges of the crescent-shaped side panel strips being connected alongthe convex margins of the central strip to provide a 'form fitting top construction, the side pieces having convex edges connected to the concave edges of the side panel strips, the fore ends of the central and side panel strips being convergent in a tab forming relation at the forehead V of the wearer, a reinforcing piece at the front I portion of the helmet secured to and extending across the central and side strips, and a reinforcing edging secured .at the front of the helinet to said central and side strips and to said reinforcing piece and said side pieces.

' BENJAMIN H. WELLS. 

